News

Portland State University won the biggest merit award from the State Board of Higher Education for 2011-12 because it graduated more Oregon residents, and more rural and minority Oregonians, than any of the state's six other public universities.

For that, the board awarded PSU a bonus of nearly $1 million Friday.

To encourage the universities to graduate more students, particularly rural and minority students who historically have earned relatively fewer four-year degrees, the higher education board set aside $3.6 million to reward results.

For 2011-12, universities could collect a $111 bonus for every Oregon resident awarded a degree and a $534 bonus for every rural or minority student who earned one.